Snowy cleared his throat, then turned to Tess. ‘You’ve got a job, albeit only for a month, this very day,’ he pointed out. ‘That shows you are employable, because if the factory wants you so will other people. I’m all in favour of you getting your Higher, but I don’t believe you’ll be able to do so for a year or two. After all, I remember you telling me that your gran had stepped into the breach when they couldn’t find any other relative to take you on . . .’ Albert saw Snowy’s hands tighten on Tess’s shoulders and realised that Jonty had noticed too, and had given a little nod.

Snowy continued, almost as though he had waited for Jonty’s approval before he spoke. ‘Tess, you told me once that if it hadn’t been for your gran you would have had to go into a children’s home, so you owe Mrs Williams a good deal. It’s not everyone of her age who would offer to bring up a child, even if they were related, so now that the positions are reversed it’s your chance to return the favour.’

‘I’ll be glad to do so,’ Tess said eagerly, ‘but will I be able to earn enough to rent a place and pay all our expenses? Girls of my age usually have parents . . .’

‘Edie may have an insurance policy,’ Albert said. ‘And she’ll obviously get sickness benefit. I don’t know about her pension, but I won’t have her worrying. Edie has no need, as yet, to face up to such problems . . .’

Tess pulled a face. ‘I’ll speak to my teachers about deferring,’ she said. ‘Oh! I’ve had an idea. Gran keeps a folder full of such things as insurance policies in the right-hand dresser drawer.’ She jumped to her feet as she spoke and hurried across Albert’s kitchen. ‘I’ll just go and fetch the folder; then we will have a much better idea of Gran’s finances.’

Albert began to nod his agreement, but then he changed his mind. None of the three young people present knew that Gran had any secrets, but he knew, and he had no idea what papers his friend’s folder might contain. He started to tell Tess that there might be private documents in the dresser drawer, but Tess was already descending the stairs. Albert sank back on his chair and looked ruefully from Jonty’s face to Snowy’s. ‘When she brings that folder back, I think we ought to tell her not to open it,’ he said. ‘Everyone’s got a right to a private life and Edie’s no exception. She might not like the three of us knowing all the intimate details of her life, even if they’re mainly financial.’

Jonty looked puzzled, but nodded reluctant agreement and, catching Snowy’s eye, raised his brows. ‘Should Snowy and I make ourselves scarce, go for a walk round the block or something?’ he suggested. ‘Though I’m sure a lovely lady like Mrs Williams would just tell us to go ahead. She doesn’t strike me as the secretive sort, and, after all, if there are insurance policies in that folder, Tess will have to contact the company in order to make a claim on her grandmother’s behalf.’